‘Ambitious’ new Luton Town FC stadium approved

History was made this evening as the Planning Control Committee at Luton Borough Council approved planning permission to build the new Luton Town stadium at Power Court. This momentous decision ends almost 70 years of waiting for the Club who have been trying to relocate since the 1950s.

Power Court Luton FC pitchDuring the meeting, the Development Control Committee was addressed by Luton Town Chief Executive Gary Sweet, and 2020 Developments associates Sean McGrath and Michael Moran who laid out the many benefits that the new stadium would bring to the Club and the community at large.

In his closing remarks, Gary Sweet also demonstrated the Club’s ambition, were the developments to go ahead.

“It would instantly elevate our footballing ambition to another level. If Leicester City in a new surrounding can win the Premier League, then so can we, it will increase our support base and make sure Luton Town are permanently financially viable going forward,” he said. His comments were met with applause from the room.

The Club revealed Power Court as the preferred location for their new stadium in December 2015 when artists’ impressions of the stadium were first revealed to the public. During May 2016 further details of the plans for the new stadium were introduced to the public at a series of exhibitions in Luton over ten days. The exhibitions opened in the Eric Morecambe Lounge at Kenilworth Road before moving on to Venue Central in Bury Park and closing at The Hat Factory in Bute Street. Many thousands of people attended, including supporters of the Club and residents, providing an opportunity to meet with the development team, ask questions and raise concerns. Feedback across the ten days was overwhelmingly positive, with a 98% approval rate among those who visited.

In August 2016, 2020 Developments submitted the applications for Power Court and Newlands Park to the council which were validated shortly afterwards. During the period of public consultation, close to 11,000 letters were submitted to the Council in support of the developments, with residents, members of parliament and public figures all adding their voices in favour.

Since then, the council have diligently been going through the necessary, and complicated process of scrutinising the applications, and while it has been a long, drawn-out and at times, frustrating process, the council should be applauded for leaving no stone unturned along the way to making this evening’s historic decision.

The gravity and importance of this decision should not be under-estimated. For Luton Town Football Club, and its loyal supporters – the security of a new home at Power Court means that we can look to the future with great optimism. It means that the Club will be able to compete at a higher level, and to progress towards our ambitions for more success on the football pitch. But also, and perhaps even more importantly, that we can continue to provide a place for the people of Luton to gather with friends and family as a community, as we have since the Club began in 1885 – almost 135 years ago.

The iconic new stadium will also provide many fantastic opportunities to Luton and its townspeople. Thousands of new jobs will be created, along with new public spaces and facilities that Luton has been lacking for many years. Above all it will bring much-needed regeneration to Luton town centre – revitalising Power Court, an area that has been largely unused for well over a decade.

Kenilworth Road is and always be a ‘spiritual-home’ for most of today’s loyal supporters. It has been a venue for countless great matches over the years, whether wins, draws or defeats. It has played host to many of the greatest teams, and players the world has seen, both from our Club and others, and has endured two world wars and many great social upheavals along the way. It has been a constant in the lives of Lutonians, and Luton Town supporters.
It has seen friends and loved ones come, and go.

But the future of our Club, lies with our young supporters. Your children, and grandchildren. Tonight’s decision means that they too will have the opportunity to witness their own unforgettable moments and experience the sense of belonging, wonder and joy that Luton Town Football Club can deliver.

It’s a powerful feeling. And that future will be at Power Court.

We now look ahead to the meeting to determine the mixed use development at Newlands Park on the 30th January, and hope for a similarly positive outcome.